Choosing the RAM

[Crindle]

My computer accepts DDR2 240-pin 4GB for 4slots in the motherboard.

Right now I have two sticks of 512mb pc3200 400mhz ram.

It can accept:
PC2-4300
PC2-3200

DDR2 unbuffered-SDRAM, non-ECC

I have PC3200=1GB (2X512mb) if I get 4300 then will it conflict or best just to stick with 3200? Can I use both at the same time?

Thanks,
Crindle the Noob.

 

[Glenn9999]

You don't tell us what kind of board this is, so it's hard to help you much further.

It may work with two different speeds memory, but it may not either. Usually when support is indicated on a RAM type (or anything), it might truly support a mixture or it would support only one or the other but not the mixture.

Then again, I understand even if it has the same kind of memory, but different timings, it might cause a performance bottleneck.

Short answer is you need to tell us what kind of computer or mainboard this is.

 

[Crindle]

Technical Specifications
Dell Dimension 4700 Series Service Manual

Processor
Processor type Intel Pentium 4 processor 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, or 570 with HT TechnologyIntel Pentium 4 that runs at 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, and 3.8 GHz internally and 800 MHz externally
Level 1 (L1) cache 16 KB
Level 2 (L2) cache 1-MB (displayed in system setup) pipelined-burst, eight-way set associative, write-back SRAM
Memory
Type 400-MHz (PC2-3200) and 533-MHz (PC2-4300) DDR2 unbuffered SDRAM non-ECC
Memory connectors four
Memory capacities 128-, 256-, 512-, or 1-GB non-ECC
Minimum memory 128 MB NOTE: Up to 128 MB of system memory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.
Maximum memory 4 GBNOTE: See "Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations" to verify the amount of memory available to the operating system.
BIOS address F0000h
Computer Information
Chipset Intel 915G Express
DMA channels eight
Interrupt levels 24
BIOS chip (NVRAM) 4-Mb
NIC integrated network interface capable of 10/100 communication.
System Clock 800-MHz data rate
Video
Type integrated or PCI Express
Audio
Type ADI 1980 AC97 Codec
Expansion Bus
Bus type PCI 2.2PCI Express x1 and PCI Express x16
Bus speed PCI: 33 MHzPCI Express:x1 slot bidirectional speed - 500 MB/sx16 slot bidirectional speed - 8 GB/s

PCI
connectors two
connector size 120 pins
connector data width (maximum) 32 bits

PCI Express
connector one PCI Express x1
connector size 36 pins
connector data width (maximum) 1 PCI Express lane

PCI Express
connector one PCI Express x16
connector size 164 pins
connector data width (maximum) 16 PCI Express lanes
Drives
Externally accessible:
one 3.5-inch drive baytwo 5.25-inch drive bays
Available devices SATA hard drives, floppy drive, USB memory devices, CD drive, CD-RW drive, DVD drive, DVD-RW drive, and DVD and CD-RW combo drive
Internally accessible:
two bays for 1-inch high SATA hard drives
Connectors
External connectors:
Serial 9-pin connector; 16550C-compatible
Parallel 25-hole connector (bidirectional)
Video 15-hole connector
Network adapter RJ45 connector
PS/2 (keyboard and mouse) 6-pin mini-DIN
USB two front-panel and six back-panel USB 2.0-compliant connectors
Audio five connectors for line-in, line-out, microphone, surround, and center/Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel; one front-panel connector for headphones
System board connectors:
Primary IDE drive 40-pin connector on PCI local bus
Serial ATA two 7-pin connectors
Floppy drive 34-pin connector
CD Audio 4-pin connector
Fan 5-pin connector
PCI 2.2 120-pin connector
PCI Express x1 36-pin connector
PCI Express x16 164-pin connector
Telephony (TAPI) 4-pin connector

Controls and Lights
Power control push button
Power light green light - Blinking green in sleep state; solid green for power-on state.amber light - Blinking amber indicates a problem with an installed device; solid amber indicates an internal power problem (see "Power Lights").
Hard-drive access light green
Link integrity light (on integrated network adapter) green light - A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer.orange light - A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer.off (no light) - The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
Activity light (on integrated network adapter) yellow blinking light
Diagnostic lights four lights on the back panel (See "Diagnostic Lights".)
Standby power light CR3J1 on the system board
Power
DC power supply:
Wattage 305 W
Heat dissipation 434.6 BTU/hr
Voltage (see the safety instructions located in your Product Information Guide for important voltage setting information) 90 to 135 V and 180 to 265 V at 50/60 Hz
Backup battery 3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell
Physical
Height 36.8 cm (14.5 inches)
Width 18.4 cm (7.25 inches)
Depth 42.6 cm (16.75 inches)
Weight 10.4 kg (23 lbs)
Environmental
Temperature:
Operating 10 to 35C (50 to 95F)NOTE: At 35C (95F), the maximum operating altitude is 914 m (3000 ft).
Storage -40 to 65C (-40 to 149F)
Relative humidity 20% to 80% (noncondensing)
Maximum vibration:
Operating 0.25 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 0.5 octave/min
Storage 0.5 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1 octave/min
Maximum shock:
Operating bottom half-sine pulse with a change in velocity of 20 inches/sec (50.8 cm/sec)
Storage 27-G faired square wave with a velocity change of 200 inches/sec (508 cm/sec)
Altitude:
Operating -15.2 to 3048 m (-50 to 10,000 ft)
Storage -15.2 to 10,668 m (-50 to 35,000 ft)


Current:
Graphics card: geforce evga 7600GT
SataII 320gb seagate hardrvie.
512mb ram (2X256mb) DDR2 PC3200 240pin 400mhz

Thats the specs happy hopefully lol.

Thanks,
The noob crindle

 

[wahnula]

If I read your post right then this is a DDR2 PC, and you have DDR(1). Some early PCs had both DDR + DDR2 slots, wee if this is the case. If not, spring for two 512MB DDR2 4300.

If your question is 'can I use two sets of different speed RAM modules?' the answer is yes as long as you realize the lowest common denominator will determine system speed and your board requirements must me met, i.e. don't try to put DDR RAM sticks into a DDR2 RAM-only PC.

Tony

 

[Glenn9999]

(Noting I found those specs on a web page)

Look at:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4700/sm/parts.htm#wp1055048

For memory install instructions.

Of special interest is the following: If you install mixed pairs of DDR2 400- and 533-MHz the modules function at the slowest speed installed.

Which is what I figured would happen.

To go on:

DDR2 memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology. If the DDR2 memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance. See the label on the upper-right corner of the module to determine the module's capacity.

This should answer all your questions, but the short answer is that you want to get RAM that matches what you already have if you want to keep the RAM you already have.

 

[Crindle]

thanks alot and ill be giving stars when I can.

 

[cdogg]

Something very simple has been overlooked here. Crindle, you currently have PC3200 memory which is regular DDR RAM that runs at 400MHz. However, your PC requires PC2-3200 memory which is DDR2 that also runs at 400MHz.

Although they are the same speed, they are not the same type. A DDR2 module will not fit in a DDR1 slot, because they are keyed differently (notch in different location).

If you're wondering what the difference really is in terms of performance, the answer is that the DDR1 modules are actually faster. DDR2 technology is full of latency, which is the delay involved when reading different memory banks (rows/columns) on a module. The average DDR2 module has a latency rating of 4, while the average DDR1 module has an average of 2.5. So when you compare both types that are the same speed, the DDR1 modules will win the benchmark. It can make a noticeable impact in some apps, although not important to the average user.


Bottom line: Ditch your DDR1 modules on eBay, and buy DDR2 if you still want to add memory. The following site is a good place to shop:

http://www.pricewatch.com/memory/

~cdogg
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